Join me at Intelligent Speech 2023

The replica Cyrus Cylinder presented to the UN via un.org

Join me at the Intelligent Speech Conference this Saturday, November 4 at 10am est. Here’s last year’s presentation before you come hear me talk about Communes, Cults, and Caliphs.
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112: King Darius Escapes

The Punishment of Bessus by Andre Castaigne, 1899

In the final weeks of 331 BCE, Alexander the Great took Babylon, Susa, and Persepolis almost entirely unopposed. By May 330, he had claimed Ecbatana as well and sent Darius III fleeing toward Bactria, but discontent was growing in both armies, and ultimately Artaxerxes V, rather than Darius, would lead Achaemenid Persia’s final stand.
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111: The Man Who Could Walk Through Empires

Map of Alexander’s campaigns via Wikimedia Commons (special thanks to Umberto from So You Think You Can Rule Persia)

After Darius III’s defeat at Gaugamela, Alexander the Great tore through the Persian capitals, taking Babylon and Susa without a fight, and only stalling on his way to Persepolis during the Battle of the Persian Gates. The Macedonians reveled, Persepolis burned, and King Darius fled, ceding Ecbatana to the conqueror.
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109 From Outer Egypt

Alexander depicted with horns of Amun on a 3rd Century BCE coin, via Wikimedia Commons

Following his victory at Tyre, Alexander the Great proceeded to take Egypt without much of a fight, but while he was there, the Macedonian Monarch did some minor administrative work like establishing the city of Alexandria and getting himself proclaimed Son of Zeus-Ammon. Meanwhile, Darius III was bracing for his next grand battle with the invaders.
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108: Dr. Alexander’s Levant of Horrors

Modern satellite view of Tyre, showing the old island (right) connected to the mainland (left)

After the Battle of Issus, Alexander the Great and the Macedonian invasion force began working their way down the western coast of the Persian Empire while Parmenion raced through inland Syria. City after city surrendered without a fight until the Siege of Tyre, one of the most difficult battles in Alexander’s career.
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107: Hetairoi Monster

Ruins of the Myndus Gate at Halicarnassus, besieged by Ptolemy in 334 BCE, via Wikimedia

While Darius III gathered his forces in the east, Alexander was busy with the Siege of Halicarnassus, one of the most brutal encounters in Alexander the Great’s career. Then Darius arrived, and east and west faced off in the Battle of Issus.
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106: It Came From Beyond The Seas

Battle of the Granicus by Charles Le Brun, 1665

In 334 BCE, Alexander the Great crossed into Asia to begin his invasion of the Persian Empire. Reluctant to intervene, Darius III left matters to his Satraps, dooming them in the Battle of the Granicus. So. It. Begins.
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105: The Life and Death of Philip II

Bust depicting Philip II via Wikimedia Commons

It’s time to turn back the clock – just a bit – and see what King Philip II of Macedon was doing over in eastern Europe while the Persians were busy with Egypt, rebels, and succession crises in the mid-4th Century BCE.
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104: The Darius Restoration

Darius III(?) depicted on the unfinished tomb in Persepolis South via Livius.org

Darius III was handpicked by Bagoas the Elder to succeed Artaxerxes IV, but Bagoas realized his mistake too late. Darius was no puppet king. He seized the reigns and set to work stabilizing the Persian Empire, bringing them back from the brink of annihilation.
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